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Situated on the east coast of India, Orissa, still largely
unexplored, is a fascinating state to visit. Blessed by nat re
with a long and beautiful coastline dotted with golden sand
beaches and gentle sunshine it provides excellent opportunities
for easy relaxation. The Bhubaneswar, Puri, Konark circuit
provides an ideal package of exquisite architectural monuments
and historical sites of Orissa. Popularly known as the Golden
Triangle of Eastern India, these ancient Orissa cities provide a
glimpse into the depths of the oriental psyche and all that the
East India signifies
Perpetually washed by the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal,
Orissa lies on the east coast of India with a 482-km-long
coastal stretch. It is bounded by West Bengal and Bihar on the
north, Andhra Pradesh on the south, the Bay of Bengal on the
east and Madhya Pradesh on the west . The state's history is
divisible into the same four periods in which Indian history is
usually analysed, i.e., the Hindu period, the Muslim period, the
British period and the post-Independence period.
Orissa's main attractions are the temples of the capital
Bhubaneswar, - the long sandy beach at Puri, the Sun Temple at
Konark and Simlipal and Nandankanan sanctuaries of Cuttack. The
renowned Jagannatha temple dominate the landscape at Puri as
does the Lingaraja temple of Bhubaneswar. 10 kms west of
Bhubaneshwar are the Udayagiri Caves, which were occupied by the
Buddhist monks as early as the 2nd century BC.
Culture in Orissa:
A nother
expression of Oriyan culture is Odissi, one of the finest forms
of Indian classical dance. Evolved out of spiritual
consciousness, it formed an essential part of the ritualistic
services in the important shrines of Orissa. Devotional in
spirit, it is marked for its elaborate grace and lyrical charm,
revealed through rounded movements. Orissa also has a rich body
of literature with Sitakant Mahapatra being one of the major
voices in contemporary Oriya poetry
Festivals of Orissa:
Makar Sankranti in January; Magha Mela and Konark Dance
Festival in Febraury; Maha Shivratri and Holi in March; Basant
Panchami in Febraury / March; Chaitra Parba or Chhow Festival in
April; Rath Yatra or the Car Festival of Puri and Raja Sankranti
in June / July; Durga Puja in September / October; Kartika and
Kumar Purnima in October-November; Lakshmi Puja in December
-January.
History of Orissa:
It's hazy past is linked to the fortunes of Kalinga of which
it was once a part. Ashoka's carnage of Kalinga made the emperor
foreswore war and till 2nd century AD, Buddhism and Jainism
alternately held sway in Orissa. Fast forward to 1514: the time
of the European arrival here. After the British conquest in
1804, Orissa was divided into three districts: Cuttack, Puri and
Balasore. After independence, Orissa became a state of India in
1950.Capital of Orissa: Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa,
famous as a temple town and a handicraft centre, has, over the
last decade, become an upcoming business centre. While the city
itself boats of no giant industrial plants, showcased in its
main bazaars are craftwork, such as the traditional tie and dye
technique of ikat, that date back over several thousand years.
Handicrafts of Orissa:
Shopping in Orissa is a joy. You don't look there for what
the modern industry can give you, but for unique and exquisite
handicrafts, made by those fingers whose forerunners had with
such dexterity and skill created the magnificient Orissa
temples. The handicrafts of Orissa include silver filigree, horn
work, folk paintings (Pattachitra), metalware, applique work,
stoneware, silk and cotton handloom etc.
Konark
Konark, also known as "Arka-Tirtha", is known for its temple of
Lord Surya, the sun god. It is situated on the seashore, 33-km
north of Puri and 64-km from Bhubaneswar. It was constructed of
black stone in the beginning of the 13th century, and it is
considered one of the most vivid architectural showpieces of
Hindu India. Despite the fact that the 'Black Pagoda' is in
ruins, the remaining porch area and other structures of this
temple complex remain as a crown jewel of Orissan artwork.
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneshwar is
essentially a town of Temples and tanks, with the majestic
Lingaraja temples dominating the landscape for miles around.
Though many of the shrines have long succumbed to the
destructive forces of nature, standing ones of various sizes
even now exist literally in hundreds. The overwhelming sanctity
of 'Ekamrakshetra' led the rulers and the ruled, actuated by the
hope of an eternal abode in heaven, to vie with one another in
embellishing the sacred place with temples of all dimensions.The
history of Bhubaneswar and its environs goes back much earlier
than the 7th century A.D., which first witnessed the feverish
zeal of temple building. It is one of the few places in India,
which have the rare distinction of having archaeological remains
almost from the dawn of the historical period down to the end of
the Hindu rule.
Puri
 The
holy city of Puri is located 60-km from Bhubaneswar on the coast
of the Bay of Bengal. It is one of the four holy dhamas of India
- Puri, Dwarka, Rameswaram and Badrinath . It is considered that
a pilgrimage of the temples of India is not complete without
making the journey to Puri.
Puri is called "Sri Purusottama Dham" or "Martya Vaikuntha", the
abode of Lord Vishnu on earth. Other names are "Sriksetra" (best
of all sacred centers), "Purusottama Ksetra" (the abode of the
supreme being), "Nilachal", "Nalagiri", "Sankha Ksetra", and "Jagannatha
Dhama". Puri is about 2-km wide and 4-km long. |
